Priorities in Emergencies
Emergency
Checklist
Basic
First Aid Kit
Amputation
Asphyxia
Bites
& stings
Bleeding
Blisters
Breathing
Burns
& scalds
Chemical
burns
Chemicals,
inhaled
Chest
injuries
Choking
Circulation
Crush
injuries
Cyanocrylate
glues
Dental
operations
Diabetic
coma
Dislocations
Drowning
Ear
injuries
Electrocution
& electrical injuries
Epilepsy
Eye
injuries
Fainting
Fish
hooks
Fits
& convulsions
Fractures
Frost
bite
Head
injuries
Heart
attack
Heatstroke
& heat exhaustion
Hypothermia
Internal
bleeding
Nosebleeds
Panic
Poisoning
Shock
Slipped
disc
Spinal
injury
Splinters
Sprains
& strains
Stroke
Surgical operations
Unconsciousness
Wounds
Choking
Extracts from
site: http://www.drlockie.com/
Food,
vomit, and the tongue itself can obstruct the airway to the lungs and
cause choking. The signs of choking are difficulty breathing and speaking,
and sometimes coughing. If the obstruction cannot be removed, the person
will turn blue and clutch at the throat, after a minute or so, he or she
will become unconscious. Choking while remaining conscious is a
frightening experience, but usually the obstruction clears itself before
serious harm is done.
The
logical first step is to try to clear the mouth and throat of blood,
vomit, foreign bodies such as dentures, and so on. If this does not work,
or if the choking person stops coughing and begins to turn blue, bend the
body over slightly (or get the person to lie on his or her side) and
sharply thump the back between the shoulder blades three or four times
using the heel of your hand. If the casualty is a child hold him or her
upside down or face-down over your knee and strike with less force. If the
obstruction is not dislodged, repeat after a few seconds. This ‘shock
treatment’ usually works even when obstruction is caused by spasm of the
muscles lining the windpipe.
If the
obstruction remains, try once again to remove it with fingers or tweezers.
If this fails, carry out the Heimlich or ‘abdominal thrust’ manoeuvre.
Abdominal
thrust
Grasp
the casualty from behind, tucking one of your fists underneath the
breastbone and grasping it with your other hand. Pull sharply inwards,
thrusting in and up beneath the breast bone. This produces a sudden
increase of pressure in the chest cavity, which should expel the
obstruction. Repeat up to three times if necessary. If the obstruction
persists, or if the person becomes unconscious, commence artificial
respiration, or put the person in the recovery position (select Breathing and Unconsciousness),
and dial 999.
With a
child, use just two fingers under the breastbone rather than your whole
fist, and pull upwards and inwards more gently. The Heimlich manoeuvre is
not without risk itself. After using it, the casualty should be examined
in hospital to make sure no internal damage has been done.